When using a ketogenic diet, your body becomes more of a fat burner than a carb-dependent machine. Several investigations have linked the consumption of higher amounts of carbohydrates with the development of various disorders such as diabetes and insulin resistance.
By nature, carbohydrates are easily absorbed and therefore can be easily stored by the body as well. The digestion of carbohydrates begins from the moment you put them in your mouth.
As soon as you start chewing them, the amylase (carbohydrate-digesting enzymes) in your saliva is already acting on carbohydrate-containing foods.
In the stomach, carbohydrates break down even more. When they enter the small intestine, they are then absorbed into the bloodstream. Upon reaching the bloodstream, carbohydrates generally increase blood sugar.
This rise in blood sugar stimulates the immediate release of insulin into the bloodstream. The greater the rise in blood sugar levels, the greater the amount of insulin that will be released.
Insulin is a hormone that causes excess sugar to be removed from the bloodstream to lower the blood sugar level. Insulin takes the sugar and carbohydrates you eat and stores them as glycogen in muscle tissues or as fat in adipose tissue for future use as energy.
However, the body can develop what is known as insulin resistance when it is continuously exposed to such high amounts of glucose in the bloodstream. This scenario can easily cause obesity as the body tends to quickly store any excess glucose. Health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease can also result from this condition.
Ketogenic diets are low in carbohydrates and high in fat and have been associated with the reduction and improvement of several health conditions.
One of the most important things a ketogenic diet does is stabilize insulin levels and also restore leptin signaling. Reduced amounts of insulin in your bloodstream allow you to feel fuller for a longer period of time and also have fewer cravings.
Medical benefits of ketogenic diets
The application and implementation of the ketogenic diet has expanded considerably. Ketogenic diets are often indicated as part of the treatment plan in a number of medical conditions.
Epilepsy
This is basically the main reason for the development of the ketogenic diet. For whatever reason, the rate of epileptic seizures is reduced when patients are on a ketogenic diet.
Pediatric epilepsy cases are the ones that best respond to the ketogenic diet. There are children who have experienced elimination of seizures after a few years of following a ketogenic diet.
In general, children with epilepsy are expected to fast for a few days before starting the ketogenic diet as part of their treatment.
Cancer
Research suggests that the therapeutic efficacy of ketogenic diets against tumor growth can be enhanced when combined with certain medications and procedures under a “press pulse” paradigm.
It is also promising to see that ketogenic diets drive cancer cells into remission. This means that ketogenic diets “starve cancer” to reduce symptoms.
Alzheimer disease
There are several indications that memory functions in Alzheimer’s patients improve after using a ketogenic diet.
Ketones are a great alternative energy source for the brain, especially when it has become insulin resistant. Ketones also provide substrates (cholesterol) that help repair damaged neurons and membranes. All of these help improve memory and cognition in Alzheimer’s patients.
Diabetes
It is generally accepted that carbohydrates are the main culprits in diabetes. Therefore, by reducing the amount of carbohydrates ingested by using a ketogenic diet, the chances of improving blood sugar control are increased.
Additionally, combining a ketogenic diet with other diabetes treatment plans can significantly improve your overall effectiveness.
Gluten allergy
Many people with a gluten allergy have not been diagnosed with this condition. However, the following ketogenic diet showed improvement in related symptoms, such as digestive discomfort and bloating.
Most carbohydrate-rich foods are high in gluten. Thus, when using a ketogenic diet, much of the gluten intake is minimized due to the elimination of a wide variety of carbohydrates.
Weightloss
This is possibly the most common “intentional” use of the ketogenic diet today. A niche has been made in the trend of conventional diets. Ketogenic diets have become part of many diet regimens due to their recognized side effect of helping you lose weight.
Although initially maligned by many, the growing number of favorable weight loss results has helped keto become better adopted as an important weight loss program.
In addition to the medical benefits above, ketogenic diets also provide some general health benefits including the following.
Improved insulin sensitivity
This is obviously the first goal of a ketogenic diet. Helps stabilize your insulin levels, thus enhancing fat burning.
Muscle preservation
Since protein is oxidized, it helps preserve muscle mass. The loss of lean muscle mass causes an individual’s metabolism to slow down, as muscles are generally very metabolic. Using a ketogenic diet actually helps preserve your muscles while your body burns fat.
Controlled PH and respiratory function
A keto diet helps lower lactate, thereby improving both pH and respiratory function. Therefore, a state of ketosis helps to keep the pH of the blood at a healthy level.
Improved immune system
Using a ketogenic diet helps fight aging antioxidants and at the same time reduces inflammation in the gut, thereby strengthening your immune system.
Reduced cholesterol levels
Eating fewer carbohydrates while on the ketogenic diet will help lower blood cholesterol levels. This is due to the increased state of lipolysis. This leads to a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels.
Reduced appetite and cravings
Adopting a ketogenic diet helps you reduce both your appetite and cravings for high-calorie foods. As you start eating healthy, satisfying, and beneficial high-fat foods, your feelings of hunger will naturally begin to diminish.
